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Oct 13, 2021
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Meet Our Innovators: Jorie Fox, Senior Associate, Renewable Development
by Invenergy Team
At Invenergy, we believe it is our people that make our work building a sustainable world possible. In the “Meet Our Innovators” series, you’ll get to learn more about some of our Invenergy colleagues.
Jorie at our Grand Ridge Energy Center in Illinois
Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do at Invenergy. My name is Jorie Fox. I'm from the Chicago area originally, and I've been with Invenergy for over 4 years. I am a Renewable Project Developer for the Eastern Region department at Invenergy. I am currently responsible for developing solar, wind, and battery storage projects in Michigan and the southeastern U.S. markets.
What drew you to the renewable energy industry and Invenergy? Growing up I was fascinated with nature and science, which led me to pursue a degree in Environmental Studies and Economics at Bucknell University. Throughout my studies, I learned about the significant impacts of climate change and how pivoting to clean energy sources could help promote a more sustainable future. At the time I began my career, Invenergy was evolving from a quickly rising "underdog" to a key player in the renewables space. I was attracted to the entrepreneurial company culture where employees were given a lot of responsibility while having an experienced team to learn from.
You started out as an Intern at Invenergy. Can you tell us about your experience with the Internship program? Interning at Invenergy was very rewarding in the sense that I was able to gain exposure quickly by being given engaging and challenging work right out of the gate. During my time as a Development Intern, I was able to work on the early stages of what is now one of the biggest solar projects in the county. I particularly enjoyed the "Lunch and Learn" events where leaders of various teams would present an overview of their department. The interns from my class were a tight-knit bunch, and I remain close to a few of them who are still with Invenergy today (shockingly so, considering they witnessed me bring a Kraft Single sandwich for lunch on my first day).
After your internship with Invenergy, you were hired as an Origination Analyst and then moved to Development. Can you tell us about that transition? How has your work in Origination informed your work in Development? After about a year and a half on the Origination team, I was given the opportunity to move to Development to gain more direct project exposure and responsibility. I was supported by great managers on both teams, which made the transition easier. My work in Origination informed my role in Development by helping me understand what qualities make an attractive project from a customer perspective, and how certain factors drive project pricing. Both teams work together consistently to bring projects to fruition, so it's been valuable exposure to work on both the commercial and development sides.
What is your day-to-day usually like? These days, a lot of my time is spent traveling to project sites to meet with landowners, local officials and stakeholders. A couple of my projects are going through the permitting process currently, so I've been attending local Board meetings and giving presentations to inform the public about our projects. When I'm not on the road, a day of work sometimes ends with a competitive game of softball with my Chicago colleagues. Whether we are off-roading in a four-wheeler on a project site, or giving a formal executive presentation, there is never a dull moment in our day-to-day experiences on the Development team.
What is your favorite part of your job? Your favorite part of working for Invenergy? My favorite part about my job is getting to know and work with people of many different backgrounds. One example of this is working closely with farmers on most of my projects. I have gained a better appreciation for an agricultural lifestyle and exposure to a variety of different opinions and values, which helps paint a more holistic picture of our Country. On the other hand, many of my colleagues share similar goals regarding sustainability and work-ethic, which makes the job easier when everyone is rooting for one another to succeed. My favorite part of working for Invenergy is definitely the people. It's inspiring working in an environment where I'm surrounded by such a vibrant and passionate group of people, who like to have a lot of fun as well!
What do you like to do for fun outside of the office? Outside of the office, I enjoy traveling, playing tennis, and scuba diving. I am also training for my first Olympic distance triathlon (that definitely counts as fun, right...?).
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